REFUSAL TO CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE IN QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT
The Quit India movement was one of the most violent mass struggles that happened in India.
The common people demonstrated unparalleled heroism and militancy, for which they faced the most brutal suppression that had ever been used by the British in India.
The British government kept on exhorting Gandhi to condemn the violent acts done by the people.
However, despite all of this Gandhi refused to condemn the ongoing people’s violence.
Instead he unequivocally held the government responsible for it, saying that it was the ‘leonine violence’ of the state which had provoked the people.
To support the movement even while he was in jail (serving time in the Aga Khan Palace) Gandhi started a 21 day fast on 10 February 1943. This was also to protest against the brutality of the government, which included the detention of thousands of Congressmen.
People in India and abroad appealed to the British government to release him from jail.
The Government not only remained unmoved, but was rather looking forward to Gandhi passing away and started finalizing arrangements for his funeral.
Gandhi survived the fast, which boosted the public morale and exposed the high handedness of the British government, which now lost all moral justification for the brutal suppression of the Indian people.
Gandhi’s unapologetic stance this time was quite opposite of his sudden ending of the non-cooperation movement after the Chauri-Chaura incident had taken place.
